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The point is not that extremely small living spaces, which you flatteringly describe as “economical”, are intrinsically bad. The issue here is the imbalance of
by vladharbuz 5y ago
The point is not that extremely small living spaces, which you flatteringly describe as “economical”, are intrinsically bad. The issue here is the imbalance of power.
I can say with near certainty that very few of the students who would be living in this space would opt for such a layout (extremely small rooms, no windows). Obviously, the students have absolutely no say in the matter, and neither does the university staff who is supposed to take care of the students' well-being.
Rather, the power dynamic here is completely unilateral. Every detail of the space 4500 people will be living in will be prescribed and commanded by one guy, based on no other credentials than the fact that he's paying for it.
This is the issue: the imbalance of power, and the unilateral ability of an investor and “hobby architect” to make generations of students live in conditions they would not themselves choose. The fact that people on HN seem to be against this building only serves as evidence that most people would not choose to live in it.
- pphysch 5y agoWhat an incredibly dramatic comment. Are you being serious right now? HN is not remotely representative of the general population, much less undergraduate student population. And most students aren't going to let their anti-authoritarian angst/daddy issues get in the way of an easy commute and good night's sleep.
- vladharbuz 5y agoAuthority doesn't have to be bad, as long as it's justified, or at the very least as long as the authority exists to meet the needs of those under authority. If you design a student dorm for example, the best design will take into account what is best for the students, according to the students. Okay, we can introduce authority into it, and assign some staff to decide what would be best for them. But either way, the "input" to this process would be the needs of the students. I don't think it should be controversial to say that constructing the dorm based on plans from a rich hobby-architect donor is not in the best interest of the students, and that it is impossible to consider this justified or beneficial authority towards the students. The argument of "some discomfort will do them good" does not convince me, unfortunately. I find it difficult to see this donor's story as anything other than self-congratulatory megalomania, but if you see it differently, I honestly hope you're right!
- pphysch 5y ago"Some discomfort will do them good" Literally no one is making this argument. This is about economics, not power.